Tim Tebow signs minor league contract with New York Mets

Former Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has landed a baseball contract, signing a deal Thursday to play for a minor league team owned by the New York Mets.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told ESPN that the signing is not a publicity stunt.

“While I and the organization, I think, are mindful of the novel nature of this situation, this decision was strictly driven by baseball,” Alderson said, according to ESPN’s Adam Rubin. “This was not something that was driven by marketing considerations or anything of the sort. We are extremely intrigued with the potential that Tim has.”

That’s an interesting statement considering that Tebow will make his baseball debut in the fall instructional league in Port St. Lucie, Florida on Sept. 19. Yes, Florida, the state where Tebow is known as a legend for his Heisman-winning performance with the Gators while in college.

Tebow, who has worked for ESPN’s SEC Network since 2013, will balance his new baseball career and his commitment to ESPN. That decision has drawn criticism from former pitcher C.J. Nitkowski.

I was on board with this #Tebow thing until I read he will miss multiple days per week in instructional league to do TV. No longer serious.